Crucible bail locking device

ABSTRACT

This disclosure relates to a device for locking a crucible bail in a vertical position relative to a crucible adapted to contain and transport molten metal. The locking device includes a latch pivotally mounted on the crucible which is engageable with a Ushaped bracket carried by the bail for locking the bail angularly with respect to the crucible.

l 221 Filed:

United States Patent 1 1 Cook etal.

[ 1 CRUCIBLE BAIL LOCKING DEVICE [75] Inventors: Henry S. Cook; Robert E. Schwartz, both of Owensboro, Ky.

[73] Assignee: National-Southwire Aluminum Company, Carrolton, Ga.

Sept. 28, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 184,384

52 us. Cl. 266/39 [51] Int. Cl. F2711 15/00 [58] Field of Search 266/39; 220/96; 16/126 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,292,916 12/1966 Finkl 266/39 111 3,749,388 m1 July 31, 1973 4/1926 Rau 16/126 1,579,489 1,137,078 4/1915 Nicodemus et a1. 220/96 Koenig a a1 16/126 Ifrimary Examiner-Gerald A. Dost Attorney-Van C. Wilks and Herbert M. Hanegan [5 7 ABSTRACT This disclosure relates to a device for locking a crucible bail in a vertical position relative to a crucible adapted to contain and transport molten metal. The locking device includes a latch pivotally mounted on the crucible which is engageable with a U-shaped bracket carried by the bail for locking'the bail angularly with respect to the crucible.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENIEDJUW 3.749 388 SHEEI 1 or z 1 HENRY S ROBERT E. SCHWARTZ BY Von C.Wilks and Herbert M. Hunegun ATTORNEYS PAIENIED JUL3\ I975 3. 749 3 SHEEI 2 0f 2 INVENTOR.

HENRY S. COOK um R0852 E- SCHWITZ IN W/LKS M10 HERBER M- HAI/EGAN A TTORA/EFS CRUCIBLE BAIL LOCKING DEVICE This invention relates generally to the aluminum reduction industry, and more particularly to a device which facilitates safe and expeditious transportation of a crucible of molten aluminum within an aluminum reduction plant.

Specifically, the invention pertains to a novel locking device for fixing the position of a crucible bail or handle relative to a crucible adapted to contain and transport molten aluminum.

In aluminum reduction plants large crucibles are used to transport molten aluminum from reduction cells to the pig pouring operation. In order to effect this operation, the crucibles are provided with a bail or handle-type apparatus which enables a crane to pick-up the crucible and transport it to a carrier trailer. The bails are generally U-shaped devices, the leg portions of which are pivotally mounted on studs extending from opposite sides of the crucible body in the manner of a simple handle attached to a bucket or pail. When it is desired to pick-up the crucible by means of a crane, the bail must be disposed in a vertical position so as to accomplish the operation in the safest manner. However, because of the weight of the bail and the magnetic field existing in the reduction cellas a result of the electrical current used in the reduction process, it is undesirable to have the bail held manually by workmen in the vertical position for reception by the crane.

It is a primary object of this invention, therefore, to provide a device for facilitating safe and expeditious transportation of a crucible of molten aluminum within an aluminum reduction plant.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide means for locking a crucible bail in a vertical position relative to the crucible to facilitate reception thereof by a crane.

Another object of "this invention is to provide a crucible bail locking device including a latch pivotally mounted on the crucible which is engageable with a U- shaped bracket carried by the bail for locking'the bail angularly with respect to the crucible.

With the aboveand other objects in view that may hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the following detailed description thereof, and the appended claimed subject matter. v

In the drawings: 1

FIG. '1 is a side elevation view-of a crucible adapted to contain molten aluminum, and illustrates the bail disposed in an inclined position as well asin an upright vertical position'(in phantom) where it is adapted to be received by a crane for transportation;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged side elevation view of the-locking device of this invention, and illustrates the latch carried by the bail support in the engaged position received within the bracket carried by'the bail, and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary detail view, partially in section and having parts removed for clarity, of the locking device.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 a crucible C as used in aluminum reduction plants for containing and transporting molten aluminum to and from the reduction cells. Crucible C has a refractory lining 23, preferably composed of refractory brick. The crucible C includes a generally U- handle portion 22;

shaped bail or handle-type apparatus 10 having a handle portion 11 by means of which the crucible C may be lifted and transported by a crane to various locations in the aluminum reduction plant. The U-shaped bail 10 includes two elongated bearing sections 12 disposed at the extremities of its leg portions (only one of which is illustrated in FIG. 1) by means of which the bail 10 is pivotally mounted on studs 13 extending from opposite sides of the crucible C. The bail 10 is supported on the studs 13 by support plates 14 disposed on opposite sides of the crucible C and connected thereto by hinges 15.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the bail l0is rotatable about the studs 13 from one side of the crucible C to the other. However, as explained above, when it is desired to lift the crucible C by means of a crane, the bail 10 must be disposed in the vertical position as shown in phantom in order to accomplish the operation in the safest manner. Although the bail 10 may be held up in the vertical position by workmen for reception by the crane, the weight of the bail 10 and the magnetic field existing in the reduction cell renders the operation undesirable. In accordance with this invention, therefore,

novel means are provided for locking the bail-10- in the vertical position so that the crucible C may be lifted by a crane while the bail 10 is unattended by workmen.

The locking means of this invention includes a U- shaped bracket 16 carried by at least oneof the bearing sections 12 of the bail 10 and fastened thereto by any suitable means such as tack welding. The bracket 16 defines a notch 17 which is adapted to receive a latch member 18 carried by the support plate 14 to lock the bail 10in the vertical position as will be hereinafter described. v

' "As seen most clearly in FIGS. 2 and 3, the latch member 18 is carried on the support plate 14 by means of a hinge l9 and is pivotably mounted thereon through a pin 20. The latch member 18 has an L-shaped configuration and includes a large latching portion 2l and a The operation of the locking device should be apparent in. view of the foregoing description. When the bail 10 is in the verticalposition as illustrated in phantom in FIG. 1, the notch 17 of the bracket 16 willbe aligned with the latch member 18. If it is desired to lock thejbail 10 in this position relative tothe crucible C, the latch member 18 is simply gripped by the handle portion 22 and rotated inward about the pin 20 until the latching portion 21 is received within the notch 17. In this posi tion, the bail 10 is simply but securely locked in afixed position angularly with respect to the crucible C which may thenbe safely lifted and transported withinthe aluminum reduction plant. When it is desired to release the bail 10, the latch member 18 is simply rotated outward until the latching portion 21 is no longer received within the notch 17.

Although only one locking device comprising a bracket 16 and latch member 18 has been illustrated and described herein, a similar arrangement may, of course, be used on the opposite side of thexcrucible C where the bail l0 is'also pivotally mounted. A single locking device, however, should be satisfactory in most circumstances. n I v v In view of the foregoing,-it should be readily apparent that there is provided in accordance with this invention novel means for locking a crucible bail in a vertical position relative to the crucible for facilitating safe and expeditious lifting and transportation of a crucible of molten aluminum within an aluminum reduction plant.

Although only a preferred embodiment of the invention has been specifically illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that minor variations may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.

We claim:

1. A device for locking a crucible bail in a vertical position relative to a crucible, comprising a crucible adapted to contain and transport molten metal, a U- shaped bail pivotally mounted on said crucible and movable from an inclined position to a vertical position relative to said crucible, said bail including a handle adapted to receive the hook of a crane for transporting said crucible, a bail support carried by said crucible,

L-shaped latch means pivotally mounted on said bail support, U-shaped bracket means carried by said bail, and wherein said L-shaped latch means is adapted to be pivoted into engagement with said bracket means when said bail is vertically disposed for locking said bail angularly with respect to said crucible.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said latch means is pivotable about an axis disposed perpendicular to the axis about which said bail is pivotally mounted.

3. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said bail includes two elongated bearing sections for mounting on said crucible, and wherein said U-shaped bracket means are carried by at least one of said bearing sections.

# i i i t 

1. A device for locking a crucible bail in a vertical position relative to a crucible, comprising a crucible adapted to contain and transport molten metal, a U-shaped bail pivotally mounted on said crucible and movable from an inclined position to a vertical position relative to said crucible, said bail including a handle adapted to receive the hook of a crane for transporting said crucible, a bail support carried by said crucible, L-shaped latch means pivotally mounted on said bail support, U-shaped bracket means carried by said bail, and wherein said L-shaped latch means is adapted to be pivoted into engagement with said bracket means when said bail is vertically disposed for locking said bail angularly with respect to said crucible.
 2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said latch means is pivotable about an axis disposed perpendicular to the axis about which said bail is pivotally mounted.
 3. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said bail includes two elongated bearing sections for mounting on said crucible, and wherein said U-shaped bracket means are carried by at least one of said bearing sections. 